Pensacola, Fla. – Jan.31, 2011- Federal Judge Roger Vinson ruled today that the individual mandate in ObamaCare is unconstitutional and went a step further than a federal judge in Virginia, ruling that the entire law must be thrown out.

Plaintiffs in the suit represent over the half the country, with 26 states signing on, making this the largest and most closely watched case among the roughly two dozen cases filed against the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act of 2010, commonly known as ObamaCare.

Today’s decision escalates the already pitched battle over ObamaCare as the case heads toward an eventual Supreme Court decision. It is expected that government lawyers will now appeal and seek an immediate stay of the ruling.

Regarding the plaintiff states’ request for an injunction to halt the implementation of the law, Vinson denied that request.

The Affordable Care Act has been in the spotlight since the reconfigured House recently voted to repeal the law. The latest decision in Florida builds on another ruling against the mandate handed down by a federal judge in Richmond, Va. in December of last year. The Virginia judge ruled the mandate unconstitutional but avoided ruling on the issue of whether that central provision could be severed from the entire law.

The Virginia ruling is currently on appeal from both parties, with the attorney general’s office arguing that the judge erred in not ruling that the entire law should be thrown out. Virginia’s governor is pressing to have that case expedited to the Supreme Court.

Newly elected Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi, who is now leading the lawsuit on behalf of the states, is scheduled to appear on Fox’s On The Record with Greta Van Susteren tonight at 10 p.m.

For breaking news and comprehensive background and context regarding the Affordable Care Act, visit ObamaCare411 and multistatelawsuit.com, which will be covering the latest legal announcements with up-to-the-hour postings and commentary.

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Using the universal coined phrase for information, ObamaCare411 blog contains the most important, up-to-the-hour news related to the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act as it happens. It is presented in a user-friendly format that includes three primary news columns featuring the latest breaking news, news as it relates to affected groups (families, doctors, workers, etc.), as well a politics watch. Site organizers hope to provide a forum to help contribute to the ongoing national discussion of the Affordable Care Act and, most importantly, to help educate the public to the real costs of the law as written. Anyone with news tips, story ideas or suggestions, may contact the site at obamacare411@gmail.com.